 The morning stillness was interrupted by a shrill geschrei*. “I won’t be a pappus! I am a water lily.” Cried Pappus* As he drifted quietly across the pond, he thought how much he enjoyed everything about this place. He liked the sun warming him, he liked the refreshing feel of the water and he liked the protection of the shoreline which comforted him, so he decided to stay. As Cloud passed overhead, he asked Pappus, “What is this nonsense I hear? You don’t want to be a Pappus? That’s impossible! That is who you are.” “No!” Pappus said in a very indignant tone. “I am a beautiful water lily and you can’t tell me anything different.” “Oh sweet Pappus,” as Cloud continues, “You are very much a Pappus, just as I am very much a cloud, and Sky is sky and the Grasshopper is grasshopper. That’s just how life is.” “Well I’m changing the rules. From now on, please call me Water Lily.” Said Pappus. Cloud now became concerned and said, “Dear one, we all have come to this strange and remarkable place with a unique job. A job which is imperative to keep the natural order of things humming. It is an honor to have such a job.” “I don’t care! I’m not listening to you.” As Pappus turned away. Cloud continued in a firm, yet gentle tone, “I think you are just fearful to become whom you are meant to be. Fear not, dear one, for Nature has a bigger plan for you. You have the most important job of all: to carry your seed, by the lift of wind to places exciting and new. You will rest only when you are ready to take root, so your species can continue to flourish. And what about all the human children that look to launch their wishes with a puff of breath? Those innocent wishes would never take flight because of your refusal to do what you were born to do. Make friends with Fear. Ask him why has he come. Give him space. Allow him to be, then miraculously Fear will morph into something else: confidence to become whom you are meant to be. If we all do our jobs, the results will be wondrous. See how blue Sky is? See how Water flows with ease? See Crow glide effortlessly across the sky? They are all doing their jobs.” Pappus listened very intently and said, “Yes, I am scared. The sky is so big and vast and I am so small. What will happen to me?” “Trust, dear one, trust the rhythm of nature and you will become miraculous.” said Cloud. Pappus lifted itself towards the sky, and was heard repeating, “I trust, I trust,” as Breeze picked him up and carried him off to places exciting and new. Live in color, Abby * A colorful Yiddish word describing a yell, shout or uproar
* The feathery bristles of the dandelion puff ball which functions as a parachute enabling the seed to be carried by the wind.
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